Winnie a danger to ANC - Mantashe

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe has warned that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's support of expelled ANCYL leader Julius Malema is a danger to the party, the Sowetan reported on Friday.

“What she is doing is dangerous for the organisation,” Mantashe was quoted as saying.

“She has taken a decision to go against the ANC national executive committee's (position) on Julius.”

Mantashe said Madikizela-Mandela's decision to support Malema was “ill-disciplined”.

Earlier this week, the Sowetan reported that Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, had told Malema in Nqgeleni in the Eastern Cape that his efforts to economically liberate the country had been noticed.

She accompanied Malema, suspended ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu, the league's suspended secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, and her daughter Zindzi, to the official opening of rooms at a child care centre, as part of celebrating Mandela's birthday on Wednesday.

Madikizela-Mandela referred to Malema as her grandson.

“Thank you very much for making us see in our lifetime that it is possible to liberate our people economically and better their lives.

“Thank you very much for leading that (economic freedom) campaign, because it is as (a) result of your emphasis, the youth league's emphasis on the role we should be playing as freedom fighters,” she reportedly said. - Sapa